Top 5

I just found a recipe that definitely goes on my top 5 dessert recipe list. I’m not sure which ranking it takes because I’ve not actually considered the other 4. Anyways, these are amazing. The original recipe says you can make them without flour but I would use the flour. I did and mine were the perfect texture – extremely gooey but solid enough to cut into squares. 

Also I got that pink sparkly heart plate at Targets after-Valentine’s-sale. Worth the wait. 

[ingredients: 3/4 c. butter | 1.5 c. rolled oats | 3/4 c. brown suger | 1 tsp. baking soda | 1/2 c. flour | 1 tsp. vanilla extract + 1 tsp. vanilla extract | 1 c. chocolate chips | 35 caramel squares | 2/3 c. half-and-half or cream]

My Shop

I FINALLY got my Etsy shop up, Cortnac, after probably 2 years of having an account. Check it out, and reblog or buy something if you like it. <3

flea market

Before I found a “big girl” job, I used to clean houses (and tutor, and freelance, and work retail). I regularly cleaned for this older woman who always had a pile of recently bought junk I needed to sort through. Most of the time, this stuff was added to a spider-webby box in her ever-cluttering basement; but every now and then she did stumble upon a treasure. Once, she had several iron wall hooks and bottle openers that she purchased from the flea market. They were so gorgeous, and ornate that I decided to take a trip to the flea market and get myself some. Of course this was several months ago, and I just now got around to visiting. I found the seller with the iron work and bought this awesome rooster coat hanger (only $5!). 

I’m just a huge sucker for country inspired decor. He had hundreds of these types of things…mermaids, cats, rabbits, suns, fish as wall hooks, bottle openers, and decoration. I saw this awesome bunny that I have officially added to my Christmas list. You can see the huge pile of things to choose from. 

The seller hand-paints them and I just think everything he sells is so unique and wonderful. I’ll let you know if I get that bunny!

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

Mmmmm, these are dank. I’m dedicating (and giving) these to a local celebrity, my boyfriend. Because today is his birthday yay! He’s not a traditional cake man and he hates chocolate (I know, I know….wteff we fight about it all the time). But these apple cheesecake bars are a great compromise — so delicious, not too sweet, and the perfect amount of crumb topping. Usually recipes don’t have enough crumb topping for me, but this girl apparently knows where it’s at.

Here he is, surfin’ it up as a kid. 

[ingredients: flour | brown sugar | butter | cream cheese | white sugar | vanilla extract | eggs | apples | cinnamon | oatmeal | caramel]

Recipe here. 

kitties

something to smile about

peanut butter cups

{It’s been a while, sorry. Gosh, I’ve just been so busy….actually I’ve had a lot of failed recipes.}

Does anyone remember when Reese’s made crunchy peanut butter cups? Well, like many foods I’ve loved and lost, they took them off the shelves several years ago. So I decided to create my own version. If you love peanut butter cups, instead of buying a bag, try whipping these up! They will knock your socks off. Plus, they are so sweet and satisfying that you won’t sit around, popping them into your mouth until half the bag is gone.

[ingredients: chocolate chips | crunchy peanut butter | chocolate gold fish or chocolate teddy grahams | silicone baking cups (shown below)]

Melt the chocolate chips over a double boiler. Coat the bottom and about 1/4 inch up the sides of a silicone baking cup with the melted chocolate. Freeze. Once frozen, cover the bottom with a layer of chocolate goldfish. Spread a heaping lump of peanut butter (to your liking) on top of the chocolate fish. Put another layer of chocolate fish if you like. Then top with remaining melted chocolate. Pop them back in the freezer for a while, and then enjoy!

{I’m not going to lie; these are kind of a pain in the @$$ to make…but they are so worth it in the end. And there are endless possibilities once you’ve mastered it. Can you imagine white chocolate? filled with strawberry jelly and chocolate cookies? Or chocolate ganache and peppermint chips? Or caramel and peanuts? mmmmmm}

before & after

I took on my first reupholster project this week. I found this structurally awesome chair at a thrift store for $10 and repainted and reupholstered it.

This was a great learning experience. I’d recommend it to anyone for a fun weekend project. It cost less than $30! Now I’m constantly scouring craigslist for free things so I can do it again. 

Dexter

I just finished season 5 of Dexter; they continue to outdo themselves. So this week’s celebrity-inspired recipe is for the one and only Dexter. Red velvet cheesecake brownies…I think you’ll see the connection. 

And as an ode to Dexter (and my North Carolina State Education), I relished the process.

Bring it on Season 6. 

dumpster diving

I’d say 50% of the furniture in my apartment is from the curb. You know I love free things.

Well, recently, one of my best friends alerted me to a lovely armoire near the dumpsters at her own apartment complex. Of course, when I got there, it was on its side, covered in trash and bees. But I didn’t let it deter me! After wading through 5 feet of trash bags, recruiting 6 men to lift this 500 lb beauty, and precariously driving with it wobbling in the back of my truck….I finally made it home with this stunning piece. I had no space in my bedroom for it, so its in the dining room serving as a china junk cabinet. 

better full-length picture coming soon! (I was too lazy to change lenses)